TWO gypsy families have submitted formal plans to move their caravans on to a derelict plant nursery in Flackwell Heath.

As reported by the Bucks Free Press last month, the families have been facing eviction from an unauthorised site in Walters Ash.

The group, which includes five adults and three children, wants to make a permanent home at 128 Heath End Road in order to access health and education services, their planning application says.

Some neighbours of the site have already indicated their opposition to the plan, after they noticed some metal gates had been erected at the entrance earlier this year.

WS Planning & Architecture, which is based in Surrey, has submitted the scheme on behalf of travellers.

The application says two of the group, Gerard O'Connor and Patrick Murphy, breed horses and attend Gypsy fairs throughout the country.

It adds: “When they travel they take their touring caravans. When they are not horse trading/breeding they carry out landscaping works.

“They have tried living in bricks and mortar but it does not suit their lifestyle which involves travelling.

“They rent land elsewhere in the district for the grazing of horses although they have no formal tenancy for this land.”

The application says the Local Plan for the district fails to identify suitable locations for traveller sites, adding there is a “backlog of unmet need”.